Reject BBI law, lobby groups ask ward reps
Anthony Mwangi and Alvin Mwangi
The Linda Katiba Movement yesterday asked Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) to reject the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) bill once it is tabled.
Drivers of the lobby told MCAs to resist any attempts by the State to persuade them to pass the bill by offering ‘tokens.’
“We fail to understand why the Jubilee administration is pushing for the passage of the BBI yet it has failed to implement the 2010 Constitution.
Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua took a swipe at President Uhuru Kenyatta of using public coffers to rally behind a document which is already facing resistance on the ground.
“Our current leadership has failed to implement the Constitution. The problem is not the Constitution but it is lack of implementation and the spirit of constitutionalism,” said Karua who is the chair of the Linda Katiba initiative.
The former Justice and Legal Affairs Minister dismissed Uhuru’s last weekend retreat at Sagana Lodge which she described as a clear sign of bribery to a certain community.
“People are not in tune with the BBI. Showing us five million signatures is just trash.
The remaining 40 million have not spoken and we are the majority,” she said.
At the same time, the movement unveiled a website which Kenyans could sign up to oppose the Constitution amendment drive.
It said the group would use the website to mobilise Kenyans to oppose BBI as well as organise meetings with activists and like- minded people to champion the same.
“We have the powers and numbers to uphold and defend the Constitution.
In the last eight years, our Constitution has been systematically destroyed by people who are only too keen to protect their interests.
It is time we rose up and rejected their new proposals,” said activist Daisy Amdany.
Economist David Ndii said Kenyans must reject the BBI or else they would find themselves in the state they were before the advent of multi- party democracy in 1992.
“There is a hidden agenda in the BBI. Our 2010 Constitution is being dismantled as we watch, “ said Ndii who is the Movement Co-Chair.
Activist Jerotich Seii said Kenyans should not sit back and watch as leaders change the law to suit their selfish goals.“Join us. Let us form a mighty army to defeat these people,” she said.
Rebellion against the BBI gained momentum with the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) also rejecting it.
“We are calling on Kenyans to resist this illegitimate, illegal and ill-timed constitutional amendment initiative” said Karua.
She called for the full implementation of the 2010 Constitution and accused Uhuru and ODM leader Raila Odinga of staging a coup against the most progressive Constitution in the world.
“We reject the State-sponsored narrative that there are only two sides. Many Kenyans are against this illegitimate constitutional amendment,” she added.
On his part, Ndii said the Linda Katiba Movement would seek legal redress, political engagement and civic education to make sure the BBI Constitution Amendment Bill does not carry the day.
“Our Constitution is fine; the two people who are trying to overthrow the current Constitution are the sons of those who overthrew the independence Constitution. We cannot allow this to happen,” said Ndii.
